Fantasy Football: Plenty of options when taking QBs

It is finally time my people, time to turn our attention away from the baseball field and to the football gridiron. As we look toward the fantasy season that will be, why not start with the guy who various high school movies have told us makes us swoon — the quarterback.

Over the past few years, as the running back position has lost much of its fantasy luster, quarterbacks have risen in stature, with a few even sneaking in as first-round picks. Although those big-time names are still around, there is enough parity at the position that no one sticks out enough to deserve that lofty position this year.

Any argument over the top QB centers on the Packers’ Aaron Rodgers and the Saints’ Drew Brees. In 2012, Brees threw for more yards (5,177 to 4,295) and touchdowns (43-39) than Rodgers, but Rodgers only threw eight interceptions, while Brees had 19, including five in one game. My risk-reward analysis says Brees’ slinging nature gives more chance for big weeks, but I can respect an argument for Rodgers, including his better chance at gaining extra points via the ground game.

I would even think one could find themselves very happy, and still think they got the best QB out there, if they ended with Peyton Manning at No. 3. Manning’s comeback season after sitting out 2011 with neck issues had great numbers (4,659 yards, 37 TDs, 11 INTs) and now he adds Wes Welker to the mix, which is enough by itself to make me unsurprised if Manning again ends this coming season as the game’s best quarterback.

There is a name missing from this trio, one that hurts us in these parts of the world, as we have to concede that the Patriots’ Tom Brady is moving down to Tier 1B. I have drunk enough of the Bill Belichick Kool-Aid that I would never say Brady is primed for a total letdown, but he is ready for a slight downturn.

Manning gained Welker, which means Brady lost Welker. Rob Gronkowski had offseason surgeries to continue his transformation into a bionic man, which sounds like it will be great when he returns, but just when that return happens still feels too up in the air. And there are some rumors that Aaron Hernandez may have some legal issues that caused the team to cut him.

Well Brady does have Danny Amendola, right?

Not that I want to degrade Amendola before he plays his first game in a Patriots uniform, but I don’t think Patriots fans would be so excited about him if it weren’t for Welker’s previous rise from obscurity that came with his Foxboro residence. Could Amendola have a similar breakout? Sure, but that seems far from the sure thing that many have deemed it.

The fantasy world may not need Brady to be as great as he has been, though, for the quarterback position is starting to be run by youngsters.

Two season ago, Carolina’s Cam Newton busted into the league looking like the greatest thing since extra cheese became a topping. Even though he has since evened out a bit, Newton still finished last season with 741 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on the ground, things he offers that no other QB may be able to, giving him automatic value.

Washington’s Robert Griffin III appears to have the ability to rival Newton’s mobility, but he tosses himself around the field so much that knee ligaments snap. Now we need to see if they heal in time to get him on the field. The 49ers’ Colin Kaepernick has also shown gone movement, which took him all the way to the Super Bowl, but we still have a limited sample size on which to gauge his skill set and he has lost leading receiver Michael Crabtree, who had to go tear his Achilles. Then there is Seattle’s Russell Wilson, who is adding Percy Harvin to his arsenal — if his hip doesn’t turn out to be a big issue, that is — and the Colts’ Andrew Luck, who is the least mobile of the bunch but may have the best arm.

With all this youthful infusion, it is surprising that we don’t have to worry about the latest crop of rookies. The Bills’ E.J. Manuel and the Jets’ Geno Smith appear to have the best chance at gaining starting jobs, but those spots are not assured like they have been for the other young stars over the last two years.

Most of these young quarterbacks are slated to go as a low No. 1 fantasy quarterback. This allows those picks to come with an easy cushion as there are many proven veterans who can be had as backups and whom you know you can rely on. The best years may be behind such players as Jay Cutler, Matt Schaub, Michael Vick and Philip Rivers, but you know they probably won’t be awful. Then there is Carson Palmer, who proved serviceable in his stint with the Raiders and now gets to go to Arizona and throw balls to Larry Fitzgerald.

It’s almost as if you can smell the pigskin as it carves out its path in the air, and it smells sweet.